Buffalo Plus goes LIVE ON THE ROAD to PREVIEW the BILLS & CHIEFS Sunday showdown

Summary

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Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bills vs. Chiefs Preview – LIVE from Orchard Park

Date: November 14, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates
Location: Whelen Brewing Company, Orchard Park, NY

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Episode Overview

This live episode of the Buffalo Plus Podcast features in-depth analysis and light-hearted discussion ahead of the upcoming Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs Sunday showdown. Hosts Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, and Dan Fates, all experienced in Buffalo sports coverage, break down the significance of the matchup, key players, injury updates, and what Bills fans can expect both on and off the field. The crew also engages with live fan questions and shares personal anecdotes, offering a blend of football insight and community feel.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Bills-Chiefs Matchup: Rivalry & Narrative

• Even Rivalry
  • "I love this matchup. It is way closer than I think the narrative is…these teams are super even. They're going to play Sunday and they're going to play again in the playoffs."
    — Mike Catalana, 02:26
• Media vs. Reality
  • The hosts debate the “measuring stick” narrative: While the Chiefs are the two-time defending champs, the Bills are not underdogs.
    — Dan Fates, 03:44: "...it's anything but [lopsided]... they're two great teams over the last seven years that have thrown massive haymakers in this rivalry."
• Playoff Overtones
  • Players and coaches acknowledge this could just be the season’s ‘part one’ to a postseason rematch.
    — Jenna Cottrell, 03:44: "This is the intro and then the outro...is in the playoffs."

2. Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes: Quarterback Duel

• Respect & Motivation
  • Allen is respected but still seeking his big postseason win over Mahomes.
  • "He gets asked about Mahomes a lot. His answers are always respectful... I think he's tired of having to say, 'I haven't gotten mine yet.'"
    — Mike Catalana, 08:05
  • Parallel to Manning/Brady AFC rivalry—Allen needs his signature victory.

3. Coaching Chess Match: Sean McDermott and Andy Reid

• McDermott is .500 vs Reid (4-4), but as Catalana notes, “Andy’s got the hardware."
• Reid and Mahomes’ consistent success has shifted pressure onto the Bills’ sideline.

4. Key Matchups Beyond Quarterbacks

• Chris Jones vs. Bills O-line
  • "The best football player right now on that team is Chris Jones…he makes those winning plays. Chris Jones at times is unblockable."
    — Mike Catalana, 11:45 & 11:54
• Bills Run Game, Short Passing, and Screens
  • Strength in screens to Khalil Shakir and bubble passes—less so to running backs.
  • "The slip screens to Shakir work because he's phenomenal with the ball in his hands...but with the running backs, it's got to start with James catching the ball."
    — Mike Catalana, 14:44
• Josh Allen’s Mobility
  • Allen’s legs can break down Chiefs’ man defense.
  • "Josh's legs…that's the difference."
    — Dan Fates, 13:41

5. Injury Updates and Their Impact

• Key Offensive Injuries
  • Keon Coleman (out), Amari Cooper (limited, cast on hand), Dalton Kincaid (DNP—uncertain).
  • Spencer Brown (ankle)—hopeful to play.
  • The importance of unsung heroes like Mack Hollins, and need for more from Kincaid.
• Defense: Von Miller & Matt Milano
  • Von Miller’s bar for impact is lowered; still seen in strictly rotational role.
  • "I almost say it's a bonus what they give him...it's a really expensive bonus."
    — Mike Catalana, 25:00
  • Matt Milano’s window is open—strong praise from McDermott for his resilience, but won't play this week.

6. Locker Room Culture: Mack Hollins & 'Everybody Eats'

• Hollins highlighted for "unsung hero" role, offbeat personality (refusing elevators—"no one is going to carry me to success", no shoes, interesting food habits).
• The ‘everybody eats’ mentality has contributed to a selfless attitude in the receiver room, reminiscent of championship teams.
  • “I play this game to win Super Bowls. This is a team game. In 30 years from now...I just want to have Super Bowls and good memories with my teammates.”
    — Dan Fates quoting Mack Hollins, 30:35

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the rivalry’s national fatigue:
  • "I think a lot of people across the country are like, we are done with the Chiefs being undefeated. I don't want to hear about 15 straight wins." — Jenna Cottrell, 05:30
• On Bills fans’ confidence:
  • "I kind of like that arrogance." — Dan Fates, 06:23
• On Kincaid’s role & expectations:
  • "When you have guys out like Keon and Amari, and you've been looking for a number one guy, Mack's one of the guys that stepped up..." — Dan Fates, 20:50
• On Von Miller:
  • "If he's doing that and he's helping them. He is a rotational player now…it's a bonus what they get from him because they're not getting—it's a really expensive bonus." — Mike Catalana, 25:00
• On Matt Milano’s return:
  • "When Milano and Bernard played together, it was phenomenal. They were just taking the ball away left and right..." — Mike Catalana, 39:26
• On game MVP:
  • "One, two, three. Terrell Bernard. Look at that." — Mike Catalana & Dan Fates, 36:00
• Mack Hollins on not taking elevators:
  • "Nobody is going to carry me to success." — Dan Fates quoting Mack Hollins, 27:35

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Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 01:00 | Live show begins at Whelen Brewing in Orchard Park | | 02:09 | First reactions to Bills-Chiefs matchup | | 03:44 | Rivalry: parity, narrative, playoff implications | | 07:45 | The Allen vs Mahomes dynamic | | 11:04 | Key matchups: Chris Jones and the Bills O-line | | 12:56 | The role of Allen’s legs vs. Chiefs man coverage | | 15:06 | Bills’ screen pass struggles & short passing | | 16:49 | Injury updates (Keon, Amari, Kincaid, Brown) | | 18:27 | Anticipation for backup OL & WRs stepping up | | 19:55 | Dalton Kincaid: expectations vs. output | | 23:34 | Defensive injuries & Von Miller discussion | | 32:06 | Hollins & the “everybody eats” culture | | 35:54 | Key player MVP picks: unanimous for Bernard | | 37:54 | Matt Milano injury update and reaction | | 40:56 | “Credit to Me” segment (lighthearted reflections) | | 48:00 | Game predictions: all pick Bills in a close one | | 50:03 | Question: If only one of Keon/Cooper/Kincaid could play, who? | | 51:01 | Episode sign-off & fan appreciation |

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Tone & Atmosphere

• Insightful, conversational, and fan-centric, the podcast blends deep football analysis with humor, personal anecdotes, and engagement with live attendees. The trio maintain a light banter throughout — frequently teasing one another and playfully talking over points — echoing the camaraderie of fans watching the game together.

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Final Segment: Predictions & Wrap Up

• All three hosts predicted a close, defense-heavy Bills victory over the Chiefs:

  • Mike: "Bills win 24-23 on a late Tyler Bass field goal." (48:14)
  • Jenna: "Bills 23-21 in another close, low-scoring game." (48:57)
  • Dan: "Bills 20-17, low scoring, both defenses step up." (49:21)

• Key final question: If only one of Keon Coleman, Amari Cooper, or Dalton Kincaid could play, Mike and Dan chose Keon; Jenna picked Cooper for his veteran experience.

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Fan & Community Appreciation

The episode closes with gratitude for the live audience and Buffalo Plus community:

• "Getting to meet so many people that enjoyed the work that we do is just... so cool, and it doesn't go unnoticed or underappreciated."
  — Jenna Cottrell, 45:28

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Transcript

[Mike Catalana]

And you know that Taylor Swift's boyfriend's going to be out there running routes and he's the guy that gets you. And we've seen it. He's having a great year. But if you got Taron out there and Bernard, you got a shot against him. They didn't have that in the playoff game.

[Dan Fates]

I also don't think Taylor's going to be at the game. I know she's having her concerts Friday and Saturday in Toronto. I know some very people upset he was at. She was at the game in Buffalo. She hasn't been to a road game yet this year.

[Mike Catalana]

She said, dan, I don't think I can make it.

[Dan Fates]

She just texted, oh, I thought you missed a golden opportunity, Dan. She just texted me. She says you're wrong. Oh, yeah, that would have been.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, she said that before. Yeah. Dammit. Can we run that again?

[Dan Fates]

Right from the top.

[Mike Catalana]

And action.

[Dan Fates]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hello and welcome to the Buffalo plus podcast. We look different, we sound different. I'm Jenna Cottrell. Mike Catalana. Dan Fates. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. You know the drill. But we are here at Whelen Brewing Company in Orchard Park, New York. We met some amazing fans. You heard them clapping earlier. Awesome to see out as we are here. Buffalo plus Mike on the road.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, this is always fun. We love doing the podcast. We love being in our studio. But this is kind of cool to see everybody live.

[Dan Fates]

Studio audience.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is the peak. All right, so obviously we're going to talk. Bill's Chiefs, the matchups involved with that, the injuries with Buffalo, what they're dealing with this week, an unsung hero of the offense. And we're also going to do. Credit to me as well, Dan.

[Dan Fates]

I got two.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was a. Dan has multiple, multiple credits to him. Dad's always trying to give himself, and.

[Dan Fates]

Only one's really about me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's. That's the practice. That's growth. All right, so we're going to get into it. We were in Orchard park today, not only to be here, but also at practice earlier on and we got to, you know, talk with the team. Bill's Chiefs, though. Mike, when we talk about this matchup, what. What goes through your head?

[Mike Catalana]

I just think it's another game. That's what Josh told me today. Yeah, I mean, Josh is like one of 17. We just approach it the same. Doesn't matter who we're playing.

[Dan Fates]

It's the biggest game because it's the next game.

[Mike Catalana]

Blah, blah, blah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The media, yeah, we overdo it.

[Dan Fates]

We're the ones.

[Mike Catalana]

None of these people are excited about the game. No Bills fans excited about the game on Sunday. Now look, I love this matchup. It is way closer than I think the narrative is. It's because, let's be honest, the Chiefs have gotten the ones that really, really can count. But Bills fans have seen them compete, beat them three times. Should have beaten them one and a half times of the three in the playoffs, maybe twice. Right. Last year was tight. I think these teams are super even. They're going to play Sunday and they're going to play again in the playoffs.

[Dan Fates]

I think that's what's tough maybe to compartmentalize about this matchup. Because Mahomes has the super bowl titles, because Reed and the Chiefs have the two time defending super bowl chance, it makes you think that this is some lopsided rivalry and it's, it's anything but. Again, Sean McDermott, we talked about it here with some, some of the people that were before the podcast went live. Like Sean's 4 and 4 against Andy Reid. Like it's not like, oh, you can't beat your mentor, all these things. That's not the case. It's not like Josh can't beat Mahomes. Like he's lost games where he's outplayed Mahomes. So I think that's tough. Part of the narrative is being able to understand that this isn't some lopsided little brother, big brother. They're two great teams over the last seven years that have thrown massive haymakers in this rivalry.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. And I think it was when we were in at practice today, I loved kind of how Spencer Brown set it up. He's like, yeah guys, this is a big game, all this stuff. But he also talked about how it's, it's, it's we'll likely see them again in the playoffs. So like this is the intro and then the outro Dan is in the playoffs.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. He was asked if he thinks that this is a measuring stick game, which is something we love to talk about in the media. Where do you guys think you can stack up? But it is kind of disrespectful in the sense to ask the Bills if this is a metric. I understand that the, the defending two time super bowl champs, but this isn't like a young upcoming team to see where you stack up against Patrick Mahomes and the big bad Chiefs. Like this is more for than anything else. It's implications on seating and possibly Home field advantage in the playoffs, and that's what this comes down to.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. And also the Chiefs are undefeated and they've won 15 in a row.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And they absolutely are going for 17. And, oh, like some teams would shy away from that. Look, you've already won the Super Bowl. You're going for a three peat in the super bowl is what you're going for. They are trying to do this. Yeah. So while it's one of 17, start with this. It doesn't put one point on the board to win or lose this game to the Chiefs when the playoffs come around. But it would sure be sweet for the Bills to be the ones to knock them off now, stay in contention for that one seed. You're right, Dan. It's not measuring stick. The Bills are right there with them. Everybody knows that. The Chiefs know that.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

The difference is, as we all have come accustomed to seeing, when it's tight, it's not just against the Bills, it's against the Bengals, it's against the Eagles, it's against the 49ers. They find a way. The difference is, can the Bills be the one, when it matters in January, to find a way?

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, obviously Bills fans are rooting for this, but I think a lot of people across the country are like, we are done with the Chiefs being undefeated. I don't want to hear about 15 straight wins. I don't want to hear about nine, zero. I'm over it.

[Dan Fates]

Or we're following the game. When Mike and I were in Indy and you're kind of following along against.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The Chiefs against the Broncos.

[Mike Catalana]

Correct.

[Dan Fates]

The last week's game. Sorry. And you're like, the Broncos are going to knock off the Chiefs. They're driving. They're calling these timeouts. And there was this sense of, oh, they're going to lose. And then when they didn't, to me, it was like, okay, like, again, once, this was another case of the Chiefs finding a way to win. That is what they've done. It's the same reason I've credited the Bills this year by saying that there have been Chiefsy, they have found ways. And before that, it was patriot. It was very patriot of them of way Brady and New England would find ways to win. But there was some Bills fans seeing on social media, they were like, we'll be the one that hands them their first.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, I kind of love that.

[Dan Fates]

I like. I kind of like that arrogance. Yeah, I enjoy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You like arrogance. How about that?

[Dan Fates]

So we're dead cocky.

[Mike Catalana]

So we come down the elevator And I go to my phone and I'm trying to figure, you know, we're waiting for that last play, and I'm waiting to see Broncos kick the field goal. I click, the picture pops up, and it's Mahomes running down the field celebrate. And I'm like, have we not seen enough of this was the case. But, hey, let's see. The Bills have only played them once in the regular season, this group, and none of the fans got a chance to see that. That was in 2020 in Orchard Park.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Strangest game ever.

[Dan Fates]

Mahomes ran all over.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, Mahomes ran. It was kind of a boring game. It was on a Tuesday. Monday or Monday.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was a Monday, but it was supposed to be.

[Mike Catalana]

It got pushed back. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

All the COVID stuff.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it was that game. And then OB Obviously the playoff game last year. Every other time it's been in Kansas City.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I do think today we were talking about what a special matchup this is. Like Josh Allen and the Bills against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. And sometimes we talk about, like, oh, it's. It's all this stuff. But even Sean McDermott was asked about, like, if you could just take a step back a little bit and talk about what that means for the Bills quarterback and the. The haymakers that have been thrown between these two organizations. I do think sometimes we get so wrapped up, we forget that it is the highest caliber players and Sunday is going to be just another notch in this. In this rivalry.

[Mike Catalana]

They're the two best quarterbacks in the NFL. That's no disrespect to Burrow or any other quarterback in this league who are. They're all got a lot of great ones around, but Josh is right there. And. But we know the difference. Right? And I think for Josh, he. He gets asked about Mahomes a lot. And his answers are always the way is, it's respectful. It's. He knows the guy is great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I think he's tired of saying. I think he's tired of having to say, I haven't gotten mine yet. I haven't been the one. You know, this was Manning and Brady.

[Dan Fates]

That's exactly what it feels like.

[Mike Catalana]

And then all of a sudden, Peyton. And if you remember, that was in the AFC championship game. They were down like 20.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And they're like, we're done with this BS. Yeah, we are going to beat him. And they knocked him off. And I think that's in Josh Allen. Like you said, he's had the wins in the regular season. But the big one will come in January.

[Dan Fates]

They're not buddies. Like, there are some of those dynamics. And Josh can say, we hang out off the field and we golf, you know, like during the off season.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, wait a minute. He said we sort of saw each other at the golf tournament.

[Dan Fates]

Well, that's the thing. And they did the challenge.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

When it was Brady and Rogers and all them. But it has that, like, they may become best friends after they're all done. Like, then, then it might be Brady and Manning being able to roast one another. But right now, it's the dynamic where the big games have all been won by one side. Josh has to change that. None of that's going to change this week, win or lose. I'm not going to think, depending on how the game goes, I'm not really going to sway my opinion massively one way or another.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think that's fair.

[Dan Fates]

Do you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you know, I completely agree. Unless the Bills were to, like, dominate them.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

On Sunday, I might be like, oh, okay. Maybe the Bills, you know, this year, it just is coming together differently. That being said, I agree. If I was Josh, I would answer all the questions exactly how he has, but I would be like, I'm so tired of it. You know, as a competitor, it's like, yeah, this guy has beat me when it's mattered most. He's a great guy. I'm over it. I want to be the one walking away being like, bye, bye.

[Mike Catalana]

There's no doubt this starts with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But it's not like it's not on other people. And it's a lot on Sean McDermott. Yeah, Sean McDermott has a tremendous record. He has an even record in total games against Andy Reid in the way they've played. But Andy's got the hardware, just like obviously Mahomes does over Josh. And Allen has played, you know, maybe in the AFC Championship game, that first one, he wasn't great. And in that game, in 2020 here, he wasn't great. I mean, you can't play any better than Josh Allen did in. Sorry to bring it up, 13 seconds. You cannot play any better than.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, but wins and losses are a quarterback step, Mike. You don't understand the concept, but this.

[Mike Catalana]

Falls somewhat obviously on Sean McDermott. And it's for him to figure out a way Andy Reid has built up this resume now with his team where he's already won. It makes life easier for that team.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

The pressure is off. I guess you could manufacture the pressure now and say oh, my God. The pressure's on to win a third straight Super Bowl. It makes it hard to play a team like that because they don't have. I mean, they, they, they kind of are playing a little bit with house money here.

[Dan Fates]

They're made men.

[Mike Catalana]

They are made men. Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's fair.

[Mike Catalana]

And so. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Is there another matchup that you think? Okay, so we talked Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, andy Reid, Sean McDermott. Is there anybody else? I mean, obviously Travis Kelsey is the guy that comes to mind. And just what he has done against.

[Dan Fates]

The Bills defense, for me, it's on the other side. It's stopping Chris Jones.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I think the interior offensive line has played really well this year. I think they had a big test against DeForest Buckner. The Colts D line wasn't poor by any standards. They played well. Weren't able to run the ball as effectively, I think, as the Bills wanted to. But that's. That's a guy. Here's a guy that can wreck games and he has done it before, and that's the guy that. I'm just making sure he can't beat you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

As good as Mahomes is, as good as Kelsey is, as well as they play, the best football player right now on that team is Chris Jones.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Mahomes wins. He wins. He makes those winning plays. Chris Jones at times is. Is unblockable.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You have to figure out a way, like you said, to not let him wreck your game. Bills have a good offensive line. They know the challenge there. When Josh comes to the line, he's looking for Jones.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You got to know where the guy is. I think that's a great place to start because Kansas City's run defense has been really good. And the Bills will need to put themselves in a good position in this game. Got to get yards early in order to make it better on third down. When you get to third down.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Getting ahead of the sticks, what that means for your offense, what that does for your confidence too, because it's. We've seen Josh Allen and the Spills team make phenomenal plays, make, you know, the Josh Allen type. Drunk Carney. What is it? Quoting Chris Long. But I think to have the control of this game and to have the offense on the field, to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field, it's just taught. It starts with controlling what this Bills team can do. And you're right. Like this chief's defense is legit. And they have been the reason why the Chiefs have been in so many Games and been able to close, close out games as well.

[Dan Fates]

The key to this game, I know maybe we're getting a little bit ahead of ourselves, but we're still talking about like matchups, Josh's legs. What we saw in Indy where they weren't able to run the ball all that effectively. I think we talked about Ray Davis only had three carries. James Cook had one or two big runs. But when Josh started using his legs, and that was last year's Josh, like when he started doing that, the RPO worked on that final drive, that 14 play, 80 something yard drive. Like I see this as Josh is. I have two clips already filed of Josh hurdling Chiefs. Like this is what he does because they're so good in the secondary. Their D line is so good. Everything kind of not negates itself, but like evens out. And the difference is Josh's legs.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And this Chiefs team will play man defense. Yep. And that opens it up. When Allen goes back. If they play man and they're good at it and Josh can get free, there's room for him to run. I still like those plays more than the called runs, but I think it works. The other thing is Spagnolo will bring pressure from anywhere. But today in the news conference, Josh said a little bit of like, you know, sometimes we want to get in plays. He didn't say to invite the pressure, but it's almost like you believe if you set up a certain way they'll bring pressure from the outside. And then you got to be ready to take advantage of that.

[Dan Fates]

Wouldn't it be great if the Bills executed a screen to a running back?

[Mike Catalana]

They can't do it.

[Dan Fates]

I chose, coming from a guy that had James Cook over 15 and a half receiving yards and two screen passes that went through his hands. Would have gone for 60. They refused to be able to. Now a Khalil Shakir screen.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

Phenomenal.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

It doesn't matter if there's nine guys around. If there was nine guys around him, he'll find a way to get around him. James Cook just one time I. I.

[Mike Catalana]

Tweeted not too long ago that the last successful Bills screen pass to a running back was to Thurman Thomas.

[Dan Fates]

I was gonna say Fred Jackson.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Well, we'll get Freddie a couple too, but they're not good at it. They haven't been good at it. The slip screens to Shakir work.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Because he's phenomenal with the ball in his hands. It seems like the blocking setup works, but with the running backs. But it's got to start with James catching the ball.

[Dan Fates]

And that goes back to what we talk. Talked about last year at times when we said they didn't have an identity. At certain points last year, that Khalil Shakir screen pass those quick bubble screens to Kincaid and those guys. That's.

[Mike Catalana]

He's gonna say it. Go ahead.

[Dan Fates]

That's their identity.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, he.

[Mike Catalana]

I thought you were gonna say it's an extension of the run.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Run game. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Dan hated the run game. We have converted him. He is on team.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Run game became.

[Mike Catalana]

And then he took credit for it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was gonna say, until it became good. And he's like, you know what? The run game.

[Mike Catalana]

I wanted a run game that worked.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, exactly.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. You can't pick something, Sherlock. Yeah, we know. Right?

[Dan Fates]

You don't run. It's effectiveness. They can run the ball.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So you're saying an effective offense is better. That's brave of you.

[Dan Fates]

Hey, do you know Joe Flacco can't be as mobile as Anthony Richardson?

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's a deep cut.

[Dan Fates]

If you know, you don't.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, but yes, I just.

[Dan Fates]

I just distract the issue and then I get back to my point.

[Mike Catalana]

So, you know, we have those mugs. Dan is right. Dan is wrong. That mug was turned to. Dan is wrong. And he's somewhat forgotten about that. He's come over to the. To the right side on this. The run game, the slip screens, all those things are. Are where the ball comes out of Josh's hands quickly and it gets the offense moving if they're effective. And that's why it really honestly doesn't matter if it's a handoff or a pitch or a screen, as long as the ball is out there and you got the blockers in front. And then it sets up Allen. Now he doesn't have Keon this week. We saw Amari Cooper at practice again today. I mean, he's got. I will tell you guys this inside scoop here. Amari's wearing a cast on his left hand. He could hold a ping pong ball in that hand.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, yes.

[Mike Catalana]

So I don't know if that makes you feel any better with the cast on because he was playing a little table tennis in the locker room, but, you know, he's wearing it and we'll see. He's limited at practice, but we'll see if he's ready to go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. So Keon, like we talked about, has already been ruled out. Mari Cooper was listed as. As limited today at practice along with Spencer Brown. Spencer Brown and Dalton Kincaid both did not practice.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is my. That is something that you talked to Spencer Brown today about being hopeful to play. That's what Sean McDermott said. It was great, I think. What was his answer? It was great.

[Dan Fates]

Sean was asked, is there hope that Spencer will play? And he said yes. Spencer did try and go back in for a brief time at the end of the Colts game. And he's like, yeah, we're hopeful. So a reporter asked Spencer today. Sean said he's hopeful that you're going to play on Sunday. And he goes, are the reporters that are you? And he's like, yeah, yeah, I am. Yeah. Like we are in the same boat there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I am hopeful.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm hopeful, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He said he's had this ankle injury before. He knew exactly what it was. He knew exactly how it felt. They taped it up, tried to go back out there. At that point in the game, it didn't really need him to go back out there. So he didn't. It's a man. It's a matter now of getting the swelling down, he said. But he did kind of seem to have an understanding of what it takes. Ryan Vandermark was. Had a gut. Was. Here's a guy that had the nice block that helped spring Khalil Shakira on the 30 yard screenplay. That was to Vandemark. So they're confident to an extent. Again, you love depth until you have to use it. But I. My guess, gun to my head right now, as we record this on Wednesday, I think Spencer plays. I'm not sure about Amari.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, Amari. The fact that Keon's already out. Amari McDermott did say that he is improving, but obviously he has missed the last couple of games.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And then Dalton Kincaid also not practicing early in the week. That to me, I mean, what does that say about where this offense can really go because they are so hamstrung, no pun intended, by those injuries.

[Mike Catalana]

Just throw it to Matt Collins. Matt was a man last week. Stud Josh, he was great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Called him the unsung hero of the offense.

[Mike Catalana]

The guy delivers for this team. He is not a top three wide receiver. Shouldn't be, but he played like one.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He does whatever this team needs. He blocks. He. He will run the route. You know, a lot of times they were talking about when you're tagged on a play, when it's basically your play and the player knows this isn't coming to me.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

In a case. None of that changes with Mack. The guy plays. He is a great athlete and he made plays. Now it's Hard. There's a reason why that's not really his normal role on the team. Yeah, but what do you want out of a player like that? We need you step up. Dawson. Knox did last week. Now Dawson plays all the time.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Tremendous catch. They needed something and we've talked about it on this channel and a lot of times people push back on it a little bit. Now Kincaid got nicked up in the game. It's happened to him a couple times. But when he's out there, they need a little more out of Kincaid. As good as he has been, they need him to take a step up again if he's healthy.

[Dan Fates]

You guys did the. You ask, we answer on Tuesday. And it was about Kincaid. Going back to last week when we did this podcast, I said he was the most disappointing player this season. It's not because I'm saying that he stinks or that he's not good. It's just a matter of the expectations that myself, a lot of Bills fans had, was that Dalton Kincaid was going to be the number one option in this passing offense. It's fine that you lost Diggs. We don't need them. It's fine that Gabe walked. That's fine. Because Kincaid is going to elevate right now. Dalton Kincaid is on the exact, exact same trajectory to have the exact same numbers as his rookie year. That's not good enough. He's not. Hasn't been as impactful as I think I saw. I thought I spent this afternoon when you guys were doing the work, just commenting on reply. So if you want to comment that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We did all the work.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, we did all the work. And Dan was just.

[Dan Fates]

And I was just in the comments section. Yeah, I still think we see the comments. We see them all. And I'm just sitting there. He's fifth amongst NFL tight ends.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He.

[Dan Fates]

He is fifth in targets. He's tenth in catches. He's 14th in receiving yards. That's average. That's fine. But when you have guys out like Keon and Amari, and you've been looking for a number one guy, Max, one of the guys that stepped up, I.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Think they've given him every opportunity to take that step forward. And I think that's the most frustrating part is you're right, his numbers are fine. They are on track to be exactly what they were last season. But in that second year, a. A first round pick, you want to see him progress. And this was the opportunity I think we were all expecting for him.

[Mike Catalana]

Go ahead.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I also, I can't even finish a Thought without them.

[Dan Fates]

If we had the jar here, that's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Everyone here can tell where I'm, like, fighting for my life, trying to get it.

[Mike Catalana]

Usually it's Jenna interrupting Dan and I from all the outstanding points that we're.

[Dan Fates]

Gonna make for all that. That I just said about Kincaid. I'm not sitting there saying he's a bust or that he's not gonna be ending. Progress and development isn't always linear. You don't just. And that's why I was. How many times I talked about the offseason. It's not easy for a tight end to just all of a sudden have a thousand yards.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, there's.

[Dan Fates]

It's not. It doesn't happen that often. So can there be more growth? Yeah. I hope he does continue to expand and become more of a versatile piece, but right now he's just an average wide receiver or average tight end. Go ahead.

[Mike Catalana]

I want to say something.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I wanted to make, not talk.

[Mike Catalana]

No, no, no. I wouldn't do that in front of all these nice people.

[Dan Fates]

Wait.

[Mike Catalana]

Dan said we will look for more Attic and Cade fans. Look for more Attic and Cade. So does Brandon Bean. So does Sean McDermott. So does Joe Brady. You said they put him in this spot. They drafted him at the time saying he's going to elevate to this guy. We did not take a wide receiver. Then when they drafted Keon, they didn't say he's a number one guy.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

They said this guy can play. Play. He's going to help us a lot. And they'll miss Keon on the field Sunday. Guys been missed for them. They did. They did, but they expect us now. That doesn't mean Kincaid can't get there. And look, when he's nicked up, he's nicked up. I mean, that's tough because he's not playing. He did try to come back. They put the brace on him. We'll see if he's able to go. But if not, somebody else has to do it.

[Dan Fates]

I think it's also worth noting that today's practice was a walkthrough. So, like, it's not a real practice. So they're guessing on the evaluations, the injury designations for a Wednesday practice that's a walkthrough. You're just guessing what they could have done.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

If they had a real practice. So tomorrow's injury report on Thursday will be the big one to keep an eye on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

A little bit more telling, but it is true that where this team is at in the injuries, especially heading into this week now they have the buy after, which is very nice and that will be clutch. But at the same point going in, you know that this team is going to look a little bit different. Different with the offense considering all the injuries that they have been having.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Talking defense though, I had. There was a comment online, Von Miller.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you expect him to make an impact in this game? Because I, I know so many fans have been frustrated with the lack of production, the lack of time on the field and what they've seen from a guy that is a future hall of Famer.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I've been in that boat. And I thought in Indianapolis, he, he was a difference maker. Especially in that second half, stopping the run. It was a lot of gritty stuff that we don't normally see. Vaughn, he's pretty much been a third down mercenary. But he came in earlier in downs when they were running and he didn't necessarily get the tackle, but he blew up a lane so that Greg Rousseau would get a tackle.

[Mike Catalana]

So you're right. But what we just talked about, Kincaid. Yes, Dan is right. It happens. The end where we talk about Delton Kincaid, expectations get higher and higher. I did say Dalton and obviously Josh Allen, Khalil, Shakir, all these. We are judging Von Miller on a much lower bar now. It's like last year it was like, yes, can he do anything? And he said he wasn't healthy coming back.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

And then this year he showed some flashes. He got suspended.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

And now he's come back. Now if he's doing that and he's helping them. He is a rotational player now. He is not. I mean.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, he is.

[Mike Catalana]

I almost say it's a bonus what they give him because they're not getting. They're not getting expensive bonus when it's.

[Dan Fates]

A real pricey bonus.

[Mike Catalana]

You are right. Money wise, the expectation behind. Does anybody think he's that guy? And you go back to that game in Kansas City. City where he chased Patrick Mahomes around the whole field and sacked him. Huge impactful plays. That's what they signed him for. Unfortunately. Got hurt.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Unfortunately for him, he got himself suspended. These are things that took him off the field. But the bar is a lot lower for him. You expect it more, honestly, certainly out of Russo. AJ Epanessa. Heck, Austin Johnson's got two interceptions. Like guys have stepped up to make plays. Von hasn't. He's got a couple sacks. He's done a little bit. But this would be a nice time to say go chase down Mahomes a couple of times.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think what we've seen and what we've expected. The bar has been lowered so much. But you're right, he is still a player, Especially that suspension. He did get a little time to get healthy. He did talk about that. I want to see those results of what he has talked about. Show up on the field.

[Dan Fates]

Why did you give me that look?

[Mike Catalana]

No, I'm just waiting for what your.

[Dan Fates]

Mind is coming up with. Well, I was gonna say the time off, everybody. Rasul Douglas laughed that it takes Vaughn 24 hours to get ready for a game. It almost feels like that four weeks off kind of cooled him off and set him back. Like, it almost looks like he's shaking off rust again because he came out and had three sacks in those first four games and was impactful and he hasn't really been noticed. It's not like he has picked up right where he's left off. It's been the opposite.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's fair. All right, viewer question. Has anyone on the Buffalo plus team adopted Mac Holland's free the feet philosophy?

[Mike Catalana]

Nope. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. My kids.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

My grandkids.

[Dan Fates]

Because it's way too hard to put shoes on a one year old.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What? We should explain the elevator from Mac Hollins. His philosophy on that.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, Mac, I did it. So I sat down with Mac at training camp, learned that he doesn't use utensils. Think small cats steal your soul. Whole bunch of just. He hasn't eaten a vegetable in three years. Like, he is just an interesting cat.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No pun intended.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

Apparently, something came out about elevators, and Matt Beauvais of WKBW asked Mac today, like, what's up with the elevators? And he said, this has kind of gotten blown out of proportion. He's done this since his college time. He doesn't use an elevator on game days or when they're on away trips because he doesn't want. He's not going to. Hang on, let me get the tweet. He said.

[Mike Catalana]

This is good podcasting.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, it's great podcasting, especially for a live audience. Thank you all for being here.

[Dan Fates]

The Bills wide receiver doesn't take elevators on game days or away trips because, quote, nobody is going to carry me to success. So when the team goes up the elevator, there's somebody there at the hotels that says, and the stairs are right over there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mr. Holland, do you think that they put him on, like, the 20th floor? You're like, all right, Mac, get out there.

[Dan Fates]

He said he's not afraid of elevators. It's not a Fear or anything like that. He is just, quote, such a savage guy.

[Mike Catalana]

I would say that his words. Mac is. I'll say. Because sometimes people are like, is it a bit. Is he doing. I would say it's 97 him and a little bit he has some fun with some of the stuff, but he's full on with the no shoes. A night like tonight, it's still warm enough.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He'd be walking now. Come on.

[Dan Fates]

He's.

[Mike Catalana]

If he's coming in this restaurant, he's wearing shoes. He's not violating the health codes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

He also said airports and hospitals.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know if he would wear shoes in here. I'm not trying to be told. Well, if they told him to wear.

[Mike Catalana]

Shoes, that he might have to wear shoes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He said airports and hospitals. He didn't say.

[Dan Fates]

Well, he did say he would use utensils if he went out to, like, eat.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We know that he ate lasagna with his hands.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay. I was told that in confidence.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. No, it's also when Joe Brady goes to the bathroom, apparently those things are. Those come out in the Buffalo.

[Mike Catalana]

Plus, if they didn't hear, they're going to go, what are you talking about? Very quick story in case you didn't hear from Sunday. So the game, Bills have the ball. They're driving down the field. I think they kicked a field.

[Dan Fates]

That was the long drive. They led the touchdown.

[Mike Catalana]

Touchdown. So, you know, I've been around a couple years. I had to run to the bathroom. So I go, and as I'm coming out, who's walking in? Joe Brady. And I'm like, hey, Coach, he's running the bathroom because their booth was right there. And I'm kind of laughing because I'm thinking, well, the guy's got to pick his spots.

[Dan Fates]

And Taylor Rap has an intercept, intercepted a pass.

[Mike Catalana]

Like 30 seconds later. I wanted to go yell in the room, hurry up, coach, you got the ball again. But there he was. So. Yes.

[Dan Fates]

One last thing on Matt Collins, I think, although he hasn't been a part of winning teams recently in Miami and some of these other places, he was a rookie and he kind of was asked today about, do you enjoy these stats in the last three, last two games when they've had injuries to the wide receiver room? He's got nine targets, he has nine catches. And he was asked today about, do you relish that individual success? And he kind of said, no. He doesn't sign to a place because he thought there was more opportunities. He didn't come here because Gabe Davis And Stefan Diggs were gone and he thought there was an opportunity. He came here because of vibes and culture and he thought he could win a Super Bowl. He won a Super bowl as a rookie on the Eagles and that team didn't have, he said, a single thousand yard wide receiver or a thousand yard rusher and they won the Super Bowl. And that's what he talks about today was, I don't care about stats. He said, I play this game to win Super Bowls. This is a team game. In 30 years from now, I don't know, I don't really care. I just want to have Super Bowls and good memories with my teammates. Yeah, that kind of stuff. He's also the one that said he took Chris Long's advice from that super bowl run where he said the play don't care who makes it. Yep, like that. And again, the everybody eat philosophy has been great. When it doesn't work, it looks kind of silly.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But that is, there's a point when a slogan becomes more than that and it's a philosophy that, that they really believe is a successful way to do it. And I think guys like Mack help bring that culture in. Even for a guy that's a special teamer, normally fifth wide receiver.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think that goes to show the, the mindset this team had when they were building a roster. Bean was in the offseason of like, we're going to take guys that want to contribute, that have skills that we think can, we can elevate them if they're in our system. And Matt Collins is the perfect example of that. And I also think he adds that element of toughness that McDermott and Bean have been looking for for years.

[Mike Catalana]

Mack plays a role and plays it well. He is giving this team what in total, what Gabe Davis did statistically for much less money with much better all around play. This guy should be back next year. They should sign him back again. I don't care who else is there. And the everybody eats thing does work. They got to get Cooper on the field when Cooper's out there, and it may not be until after the, the buy. Yeah, we've talked about it. All these guys elevate. Everybody elevates. But Mack Hollins would be on my team. I, I've been. When they signed him, I thought, he's a special teamer. He's that guy. He's way more than that. Everybody eats. Mack just does it without a knife and fork, but everybody eats.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Should we talk about who's been eating the most with Khalil Shakir.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And Jenna picked Khalil Shakir to be the going the season.

[Dan Fates]

I MBS is killing it and move the Saints. He just is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, he's. He's so good. Dan tries to find he's on another team.

[Mike Catalana]

So. So you guys just didn't use him, right? We. We predicted the beginning of the year. Who would have the most yards receiving. Jenna went with Shakir. She went chalk the number one guy. We let her take it.

[Dan Fates]

The only returning guy that got a pass.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So he was like minus 400 on the odds.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And then I went with shoot or shoot. Curtis Samuel.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

At least he's on the team.

[Mike Catalana]

He caught a few.

[Dan Fates]

At least he's on the team.

[Mike Catalana]

Dan took MVS who got cut and then had a tremendous game for the Saints. And Dan is trying to take credit for his yards with the Saints.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

We're not allowing that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, we are not.

[Dan Fates]

It's Saints or I get Cooper. It's whatever.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's not how that works.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Going back to this game Sunday, we got a little derailed, but if you watch Buffalo plus I'm sure you are.

[Dan Fates]

This is status quo.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Already know that. How important? Important Mike is a fast start for this game. And what does that mean for this team?

[Mike Catalana]

I think it's important. I think it's a little overstated with the team because I look at that Seattle game, they got a quick score and then before you know it, they should have been down in that game. You remember what Seattle did twice and the Bills held on. They cut off to as quick a start. Well, they didn't do anything on offense Sunday. And then pick six Terrence in the end zone. Quick start. But the offense was struggling and they were behind again and it went back and forth. So even though it feels good, you're sitting at home, they're up seven nothing. They're doing this. I think it's important. Look, you'd want them to be great the whole game. And I think against Kansas City, we always talk about. Yes, it's always nice to have the lead against them. I'd much rather have a team that plays better in the second half, then jumps out the leads and holds on for dear life.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

So I will say it's better, but I think when you get points early is better. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm saying, you know, teams can play a faster and have a good second half.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. It's tough to go.

[Dan Fates]

Richardson is faster than Joe Flaccos.

[Mike Catalana]

It's great if you can do it for all 60. It's great.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

This team gets better. They're. They get coached up, they make adjustments, they don't panic. All those things. They got a kicker who now makes kicks. All those things help you. And so I think it's important, hey, look, you can't play Kansas City and do what you did against Baltimore and Houston. I'm not saying you want to be down 20 to nothing or 20 to three. Yeah, that puts yourself against a good team spot. Now I'm saying is there's a difference between being down 7 or 10. You get the ball, you get some points. I'm talking about getting down three scores like they did. That's tough against a good team. Two losses.

[Dan Fates]

I'm not sure how much it matters in this game. Obviously, it's better to have points earlier. Those things, they've come back now in four, four games this season already five games have been down by double digits. If they go up 10, nothing early, like far from over. I think this is going to be another one of those games where whoever has the ball last is going to win. And unless Taryn Johnson or somebody steps up, makes an interception like the Bills have gotten stops. I know it's. Everybody will tell me that Sean McDermott doesn't get stops against Patrick Mahomes. He has done it. I think that's what this game comes down to. No matter who starts fast, I think this game is going to tighten up at some point. These two teams are too good. They're too well coached. It's going to have a playoff atmosphere. Feel. I think it's going to come down who has the ball last.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I. We're going to go to credit to me in a little bit, but I want to. I'm going to ask you, this guy's on the spot. Is there a guy that you think is the MVP for the Bills in this game? You could say Josh, if you want to, but is there a player that you think, this guy.

[Dan Fates]

We're gonna say the same guy.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, so I get to say it first because Dan's gonna say on three.

[Dan Fates]

One, two, three.

[Mike Catalana]

Terrell Bernard. Look at that. God, these guys. Hey, credit to us.

[Dan Fates]

Nailed it. Yeah. You didn't get to play in the playoff game, and we've said it plenty of times, he plays in that playoff game last year, they beat the Chiefs.

[Mike Catalana]

They win.

[Dan Fates]

They beat the Chiefs.

[Mike Catalana]

You talk. You ever hear when sometimes somebody will say these guys are pros and sometimes they, you know, they take their time, they don't want to play, you know, that kind of thing. Terrell Bernard. I mean, Sean talked about it today, basically in tears. Yeah. When he knew he could not play in that game. He is so important to them. And look, you know, you had guys coming off the street having to play linebacker with injuries in that game. Bernard is an exceptional player. I think. I think we both, all three of us would agree. It's Josh 1 on this team, and I think the second best player right now is Terrell Bernard.

[Dan Fates]

You can make a case for Taran.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was going to.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's really the only other guy that I'm like, he is playing on that level.

[Mike Catalana]

But Bernard is so important to them at what he does. Plus, you know, what they have behind him. It's a struggle. He's the guy. And you know that Taylor Swift's boyfriend's going to be out there running routes and he's the guy that gets you. And we've seen it. He's having a great year. But if you got Taren out there and Bernard, you got a shot against him. They didn't have that in the playoff game.

[Dan Fates]

I also don't think Taylor's going to be at the game. I know she's having her concerts Friday and Saturday in Toronto. I know some very people upset he was at. She was at the game in Buffalo. She hasn't been to a road game yet this year.

[Mike Catalana]

She said, dan, I don't think I can make it.

[Dan Fates]

She just texted, oh, I thought you missed a golden opportunity, Dan. She just texted me. She says, you're wrong. Oh, yeah, that would have been.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, she said that before. Yeah. Damn it. Can we run that again from the top? And action.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Speaking of linebacker, though, we learned this week that his practice window has been opened by the Bills. We know what he means to the team. We know that this was the second season that he's missed significant time with an injury. Sean McDermott today talked about how encouraging that is, not just for Milano, but just the boost that that adds for the entire roster and just what this means now to Milano.

[Dan Fates]

A lot of times when we ask Sean McDermott about a certain player, he generalizes the entire position or at times, the entire side of the football. If you. You say, hey, this wide receiver is playing really good. All of the wide receivers are really working hard.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He will literally say that about the like, about all of the quarterbacks.

[Dan Fates]

The whole room's working hard.

[Mike Catalana]

If you say, sean, how is your wife? He'll say, my wife, like everyone's wife is whatever. He doesn't like to single people out.

[Dan Fates]

Minute and a half answer on Milano.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

About the resiliency, the journey he's been on for the last two years, overcoming the injuries, all the things like, I thought he was going to get choked up talking about it, because he goes. I don't. He goes. I don't even know what he's been through. He goes. And I'm pretty close to the guy.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Because if you have the mental hurdles, you have the physical hurdles, you have the emotion of getting back at training camp, we're all so excited. And then to get injured in the preseason, all of that stuff. And he's been around the team more that Sean has said, even just that, because it wasn't the fractured leg like he had last year. Because of his recovery here with the torn pack, he's been able to be around the team and had more of an impact. Very, very long. Eloquent Answer by McDermott.

[Mike Catalana]

And Jenna knows this. You guys know it. When Milano and Bernard played together, it was phenomenal. I mean, they were just taking the ball away left and right. And Dorian Williams is a heck of an athlete and a good player. You can use all three of those guys. They didn't make a move for a linebacker. You know, deadline. Brandon Bean knew this. This was going to be happening. It was just a matter of when it was going to happen. Like we said, he's not playing Sunday. That's already been the case. He will get out there on the field with his teammates, then they get the bye week. I think he's coming back after the bye. That would seem to be the case for him against. And by the way, if you hear any, there's a quote or anything, Josh Allen was asked today about Micah Hyde. And at the very end, he said, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Was it Beauvais?

[Mike Catalana]

No.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

I think it was Matt Perino who asked him, and he asked a question, and Josh was like, our guys are great. He's like, I'm not sure what you want me to say. I've kept in touch with him at the end, he said, and listen, if Micah decided he wanted to come back, he'd be welcome back with open arms. You'll probably see some headline somewhere like.

[Dan Fates]

Josh came out and said, it's on ESPN right now. It's, Micah's coming back. It's unbelievable, but he'll welcome back.

[Mike Catalana]

Hey, could it happen? Nothing would surprise me if he's playing anywhere. If he decides a little bit, that would surprise because it's late here. So if you're gonna come back, Micah, come on, get moving. But you just might hear that. But Milano will be back, and I think it's gonna be right after the buy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right. You want to do credit to me? You want to kick things off?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. So this is the segment we've. We've started doing. Just giving talk about our personal lives. We have traveled quite a bit, and Sean pointed it out, we talked about it, that it was week eight when we were going on our fourth road trip, fifth road trip. And Mike's like, that's halfway through the season. Or halfway through the road games. It's felt like you don't talk like that. That's how you talk.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is actually halfway through the season.

[Dan Fates]

That's. That's what it is. And we went there and Sean said today, like, we've been on the road a lot. It'll nice. It'll be nice to be home at that moment.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I look back at you and you're like, yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

McDermott looked at me like, what's that idiot doing back there in the press?

[Mike Catalana]

He does that a lot.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. Credit to pilots. I don't understand one. How planes fly a lot.

[Mike Catalana]

You don't understand 100%.

[Dan Fates]

We've talked about cranes, we've talked about that. Planes. And the fact that I don't know whether it's since I've had kids. I don't like turbulence. I don't do well with it.

[Mike Catalana]

Nobody likes turbulence.

[Dan Fates]

I don't do well with it at all. But the fact that the pilot, like, I'm jumping and they're just calm, cool and collected when we were living, that's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What you want, though, right?

[Dan Fates]

So that's why I'm giving them credit. That's the whole point of this segment. Just mind blowing. Where it's like, I. You wanted to give credit to the engineers that have built planes. Yeah. There's a lot of buttons. Mike goes, there's a lot of buttons in there. And I go, I can't do the voice again. But I said, they all have to know the buttons.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, it's just wild to me. Yes, we fly a lot. I don't like it when the pilot gets on and it's like, hey, you know, it's going to be a little. Little bumpy coming in. And I already am, like, uneasy. I'm not good. I'm sure there are a lot of viewers that, like, comment, subscribe. They also don't like turbulence, everyone.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Not a big fan of.

[Mike Catalana]

By the way, when we're ready to get on the plane, the pilot to get on the plane look like an actor playing the Part of a pilot. He looked more like a pilot than any pilot I've ever seen.

[Dan Fates]

He could be just pretending he could have. It was. It was unbelievable. And the one flight we had, it was last year. All of a sudden, normally they'll come on and be like, hey, put your seatbelts on. We got a little bit of turbulence coming. I like a little bit of the heads up, right? We're flying. Last year, this plane was bouncing like I've never been on a plane before. Very uneasy. But in my head, the guy never got on the intercom, so I was like, oh, he. You know, he's just doing his job. Like, he didn't have time to say anything. We get out of it and he goes, whew. That snuck up on me there. Sorry about that, guys. Snuck up on you. You're the pilot. I don't want you to be snuck up.

[Mike Catalana]

So credit to all pilots except that guy.

[Dan Fates]

That guy?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like, holy cow.

[Mike Catalana]

All right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You do often say, how do planes fly? It's just a tin can in a breeze.

[Dan Fates]

We're in an aluminum tube in the air.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

I don't understand it.

[Mike Catalana]

All right. Credit to me. I. I think as I get older, I'm supposed to get crankier. And I have my moments of getting cranky, but on a plane, I have pretty good plane etiquette. I look around, I don't stand up too soon. Running down the. And I try to avoid what the guy did next to me. So credit to me for trying to be calm guy. I sit on the aisle, the guy's in the middle. His wife is sitting on the. At the window. Dude is doing the spread out thing, left arm, like, basically in my chest, and I'm like, well, at some point, he's gonna give me a little room. I'm halfway out. I'm Almost got the flight attendant running into me, and the guy falls asleep. I've never seen a person sleep more soundly in my life. I was giving him, like, this. This at one point. I'm like, almost like, shoving the dude. I'm like, lean over on your wife during the flight. Not a thing sat there. I think I have avoided that voice that you give me and also avoided being too cranky. I finally just said, take a breath, put my headphones on, like I like to do. And don't do anything.

[Dan Fates]

Put your arm around him and cuddle him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Usually my favorite, though, is when we're on a plane together and you have your headphones on and you're trying to be quiet, but you have your headphones on so you don't know how loud you're being.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm loud.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What are you doing? Like, oh, my God, Mike, if people are sleeping, you're screaming.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I have a lot to say.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, you usually do. Okay, there is that. All right. My credit to me is actually credit to my sister. She's here tonight.

[Mike Catalana]

Where's Alyssa?

[Jenna Cottrell]

She's literally right there.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, there she is.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, I didn't see her come up to the bar. I was looking.

[Jenna Cottrell]

She's right there. She drove five hours to be.

[Mike Catalana]

Look at that.

[Dan Fates]

She, like, comments and subscribes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, comments and subscribes and shares, and.

[Mike Catalana]

She tells us all kinds of dirt on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, honestly, you guys get along a little too well with her, but, no, I really appreciate it. And then also, to everyone who came out here tonight, I can't tell you how much it means. It is so cool to see, and it truly has been something that, like, growing this channel has been such an amazing experience, and getting to meet so many people that enjoyed the work that we do is just. It's so cool, and it doesn't go unnoticed or underappreciated. So thank you.

[Dan Fates]

When Mike and I started this idea for this channel, we. We never thought it would grow. We never. I mean, it's crazy that people show up to listen to me say anything.

[Mike Catalana]

But credit to us, but credit to us.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We have to hear you, even when it's not recording.

[Dan Fates]

Look at it. I know we talked about it in the podcast, but tons of fans in Indy. We've been to Kansas City before, and fans everywhere we've gone. I mean, we just walk outside a hotel and somebody goes, hey, Buffalo plus. Love you guys. Like, that's mind blowing.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. By the way, the one quick thing is, when we were in Indy, Dan had talked. We had talked about Elmo's. I introduced Dan. They love St. Elmo's. But it's kind of funny to me because Jenna is elite at picking restaurants, and Dan's the one giving restaurant advice on the channel.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know.

[Dan Fates]

We should have gotten a cover for.

[Mike Catalana]

How many tables we brought into St. Elmo's. Well, Josh Allen was there, so that's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's when you know it's a good spot.

[Mike Catalana]

That's right, Josh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Watch the video. He liked commenting, commented, subscribe, and that's what he did.

[Dan Fates]

And then we were at the airport in Philly, and this guy came up to us. He was in. I think his name was Bob. He was a veteran, active duty. He was flying back to Leavenworth Kansas City. He was from Syracuse. It was really nice to meet up with him. And he talked for like five minutes. It was another one of those moments where you're like, holy cow. Like, we're just in a Philadelphia airport seeing a Bills fan from upstate New York. And then my ego got a little bigger.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah, tell this story.

[Dan Fates]

We're sitting there eating breakfast and another guy, Bob had just left and another guy had come up to our table. And he kind of does that, like. And I think, yes, Buffalo plus. And he says, he goes, do you guys order here or do you go up to the. Do you go up to the there? And I was like, yeah, you can order here. Somebody will come around. I looked at Mike and started laughing.

[Mike Catalana]

He said, wow.

[Dan Fates]

I was like starting to feel myself a little bit. Just thought. Just thought. Everybody walked up to us and just was like, low plus.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, do you order heres?

[Dan Fates]

I was like, yes, yes. Like, we'll take pictures.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sounds good. All right. As we wrap things up, do we want to do our picks?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I can pick.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Michael. Well, you're last in the standings.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. They love saying last. I am one game behind you, too.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You act like of saying, if you're not first, you're last.

[Mike Catalana]

So I like the Bills in this one. I like the way they're playing. I like the atmosphere. I like the fact that the Chiefs are undefeated. I think it helps the businessman. It's going to be a close game. It is going to be all those things. I think this time it's the Bills late. And wouldn't it be something if it's a Tyler Bass field goal to win? Redemption in my head is sticking. 24, 23. Bills hold on and win it late. So that would not be a cover, right, Dan?

[Dan Fates]

No, wouldn't be a cover.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The bills are two and a half point favorites.

[Dan Fates]

Two and a half point favorites. 79% of the bets, 80% of the money is all in the Chiefs right now, obviously early in the week, but everybody is. It's Patrick Mahomes as an underdog. We all know those numbers.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. All right. In my head I was thinking more 23, 21. Another very close game, lower scoring. I think this is going to be kind of not, as to say, a slog, but I think you're going to see a lot from the both defenses. I think Terrell Bernard being back out there, obviously he wasn't there in the playoffs, is massive. We talked about that. And I think the Bills find a way to win and that's what it's going to come down to on Sunday.

[Dan Fates]

I'm going Bills.

[Mike Catalana]

I think it's.

[Dan Fates]

I think it's going to be a defensive game. Yeah, I think that. Because if these guys play again in the playoffs, I think they could be healthier. But right now, with the state of the Bills offense, the Chiefs also can't run the ball right now. They just opened Pacheco's window, but he's not expected to play. I really like both defenses in this one 2017 low scoring game in Buffalo.

[Mike Catalana]

I think we're all in about the same place. And keep that in mind, what Dan's just saying there. Pacheco will be back. I don't know if any of their other receivers will come back. Will be back when they play again. Milano would be playing again and likely other players in and out. That's what ends up happening this game. You got to get a little lucky, too, to have your players on the field.

[Dan Fates]

And honestly, I think the biggest player. If I could say if I could get one of these three players to play real quick to you guys, if you could have Keon, Cooper or Kincaid that you said you got to play, who would you pick?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Jenna Cooper.

[Mike Catalana]

I just think what he adds, I'm gonna say Keon.

[Dan Fates]

I'm going with Keon.

[Mike Catalana]

I think Keon will make that.

[Dan Fates]

And I would not have said that through five weeks of the season.

[Mike Catalana]

For a few weeks.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Because he came over, then he got hurt. He looked good in the first game and then he got hurt right away. Who he is right now, I would say. I would say Keon, he's going to make some in a game like this. He's going to make some plays for him.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just think I would want someone a little bit more with a little bit more understanding of playing in a game like this. I would be a little bit nervous about his nerves going into a matchup like this.

[Mike Catalana]

We'll see.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's true.

[Dan Fates]

I never would have thought I would have said Keon a month into the season.

[Mike Catalana]

Kid's been tough.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He has been all right.

[Dan Fates]

Confidence is a hell of a drug.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, we got that in there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, we are gonna wrap up here. Again, want to say thank you to everyone who. Who came out. We really appreciate it.

[Mike Catalana]

Listen. What a crowd.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We want to say thank you to Whalen Brewing Company. Amazing spot. If you're in this area. Check it out. The food is banging.

[Dan Fates]

Gorgeous.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, I love food.

[Dan Fates]

So, yeah, I know another one here. During the summer.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know there's a botchy little short that's awesome.

[Mike Catalana]

Bill's players like this place.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So this is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, this is. They have a lot of parties here. So. For my Catalana and Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cotrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. We really appreciate all the love and support tonight. Thank you so much for watching here. We'll catch you next time on the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris. Thank you.

[Dan Fates]

In the time it takes you to actually board that flight from Group 8.

[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Dan Fates]

You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon. Yes, that Amazon, where you buy everything else.

[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Dan Fates]

So while you're waiting for them to make up new boarding groups, you can order your dream car and the dealer.

[Mike Catalana]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Dan Fates]

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